Italy experiencing shortage of pizza makers

April 30, 2013

Maybe the world is ending soon after all. News broke this week about a shortage of pizza makers in Italy of all places. ABC News obtained a report from an Italian business federation, FIPE, that said managers have been forced to hire unskilled laborers because there aren't enough applicants who are qualified.

Despite the long recession and high levels of unemployment, an estimated 6,000 skilled pizzeria workers are needed, FIPE reported.

One pizzeria manager told ABC News that few are interested in working long hours for relatively low pay.

There are an estimated 25,000 pizzerias in Italy. A local pizzeria typically employs six or seven employees.